CA · Oceanside · Updated October 15, 2026

Respiratory Therapist jobs in Oceanside, CA

Pay for respiratory therapists in the Oceanside area centers on $49.32 per hour, or about $102,590 a year. The lower quarter earns under $40.55 and the upper quarter over $58.65. The CMS hospital directory lists 1 hospital in Oceanside. That ranks 10th of 270 U.S. metro areas for respiratory therapist pay, and 22nd of 248 once local prices are factored in. The free report below lists employers near Oceanside and what they pay.

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Respiratory Therapist pay in Oceanside, CA

The metro median is in line with the California statewide median of $49.10 per hour. Nationally the median is $38.68 per hour. BLS counts about 1,430 respiratory therapists employed in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area, 0.9 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.06).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$37.56$78,1203% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$40.55$84,3405% above U.S. median
Median$49.32$102,59028% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$58.65$121,99052% above U.S. median
Top 10%$60.75$126,36057% above U.S. median

How Oceanside ranks

  • 10th of 270 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 22nd of 248 after adjusting for local prices
  • 9th of 16 California metro areas

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Respiratory Therapists (SOC 29-1126), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.

What your pay buys in Oceanside

  • Overall prices in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad run 12% above the U.S. average (index 111.9, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 79% above the U.S. average (index 179.3).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $49.32 median hour buys what $44.08 buys at the national price level, 14% above the national median.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.

Estimate your Oceanside paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,776
  • Per year: $88,776
  • Per month: $7,398

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Oceanside

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$205
Meals and incidentals per day$86
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$2,037
13-week assignment$26,481

Travel respiratory therapist assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free. Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.

Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).

Hospitals in Oceanside

CMS lists 1 hospital in Oceanside, 0 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of respiratory therapists.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Tri-City Medical Center
Oceanside, CA
Acute careGovernment and federal1 of 5Yes

Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.

Respiratory Therapist pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Vista, CA5 mi$49.32/hr99,322
Carlsbad, CA7 mi$49.32/hr113,575
Temecula, CA21 mi$46.67/hr112,431
San Clemente, CA24 mi$48.68/hr62,627
Murrieta, CA25 mi$46.67/hr112,539
Laguna Niguel, CA31 mi$48.68/hr64,185

Respiratory Therapist jobs in California · Respiratory Therapist jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in California

RRT or CRT credential from NBRC. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what California requires for your role with the California licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.

California taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.

California state guide

Other healthcare roles in Oceanside

Oceanside city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do respiratory therapists make in Oceanside, CA?

Respiratory Therapists in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area have a median pay of $49.32 per hour, about $102,590 a year. The middle half earn between $40.55 and $58.65 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Oceanside a good place for respiratory therapists once cost of living is counted?

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad ranks 22nd of 248 metro areas for respiratory therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 10th of 270 before adjusting. Overall prices run 12% above the U.S. average.

Who is hiring respiratory therapists in Oceanside?

We list 1 open role with published pay from 1 employer in Oceanside. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Oceanside.

Do I need a California license to work in Oceanside as a respiratory therapist?

RRT or CRT credential from NBRC. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what California requires for your role with the California licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.

What is the per diem for a travel assignment in Oceanside?

The federal per diem benchmark in Oceanside is $205 a night for lodging and $86 a day for meals and incidentals, about $2,037 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place respiratory therapists in Oceanside?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Oceanside and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Oceanside.

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Pay report · RT near Oceanside, CA
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your RT pay reportOceanside, CA · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • El Camino HealthMountain View, CA · 2 postings$84.17/ hr$72–$96
  • CommonSpirit HealthSACRAMENTO, CA · 8 postings$56.70/ hr$47–$71
  • Sharp HealthCareLa Mesa, CA · 5 postings$46.92/ hr$41–$58
  • Sharp HealthcareLa Mesa, CA · 3 postings$46.92/ hr$41–$53

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.

2What they are offering now

Low$33Median$46.92High$61

46 RT postings with published pay in California, 41 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 46 RT roles

  1. Respiratory Care Practitioner IIIPermanent
    $58.06–$67.60/ hour
    CommonSpirit Health · Sacramento, CA · posted today
  2. Respiratory Care PractitionerPermanent
    $48.74–$60.02/ hour
    CommonSpirit Health · Northridge, CA · posted today

+ 44 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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